1st Advantage MortgageAbout 80% of Charlton County homes are owner-occupied, and the median household income is $61,276. Your income, debts and credit decide what you qualify for. Get offers in writing, compare the total repaid, and never pay a fee up front.
On this page
- Getting oriented in Charlton County
- What Charlton County households earn
- Rent, home values and ownership in Charlton County
- Jobs and commutes in Charlton County
- The communities that make up Charlton County
- Regional comparison for Charlton County
- What a median Charlton County budget can carry
- Before borrowing in Charlton County
- Charlton County residents: age, schooling, coverage
- Steps before you apply in Charlton County
- Lender oversight for Charlton County
- More guides for Charlton County
- Frequently asked questions
Getting oriented in Charlton County
The latest five-year Census estimate puts Charlton County's population at 12,818; only 111 of Georgia's 159 county-level areas are larger. Land area is 780 square miles (2024 Gazetteer), so density runs near 16 per square mile. It sits outside every metropolitan statistical area in the July 2023 OMB delineation. Folkston is the biggest of its 2 Census places, at roughly 4,631 people (36% of the county total).
What Charlton County households earn
Charlton County households have a median income of $61,276 (ACS 2020 to 2024), which ranks 62nd of 159 in Georgia.
| Yearly household income | Charlton County | Gap to Georgia |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 32.7% | +10.5 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 41.8% | +2.3 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 21.9% | -4.5 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 3.6% | -8.3 pts |
Some 33% of households here live on less than $35,000 a year; 26% have six-figure incomes. The poverty rate is 18.1%, 5 points higher than the state's 13.4%. A household earning below the $61,276 median should test any payment carefully; one earning above it should still pick the shortest term it can manage.
Rent, home values and ownership in Charlton County
Renters in Charlton County pay a median of $540 a month, 61% below the Georgia figure of $1,393. By the Census definition, 43% of Charlton County renters are cost-burdened. With a median value of $142,800, a typical Charlton County house costs 2.3 times what the median household earns in a year. The ownership rate is 80%.
| Measure | Charlton County | Georgia | Median U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $540/mo | $1,393/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $142,800 | $303,300 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 80% | 66% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 43% | 52% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 35% | 26% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 38.5% | 7.8% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 11% | 10% | n/a |
Owners with equity have a second option. Weigh a secured line against an unsecured loan by risk as well as cost before you choose (how they compare).
Jobs and commutes in Charlton County
By the Census industry count, 16% of employed Charlton County residents work in professional and administrative services and 15% in education and health care. The sharpest difference from the state is in construction, at 13% locally and 7% for Georgia. Averaged over the five survey years, 14.0% of the labor force was out of work and looking. About 93% drive to work alone and 34% have trips of 45 minutes or more. Only 7.0% of homes here go without a vehicle.
| Sector | Charlton County | Compared with Georgia |
|---|---|---|
| Professional and administrative services | 15.9% | +2.3 pts |
| Education and health care | 15.4% | -5.6 pts |
| Construction | 13.5% | +6.5 pts |
| Retail trade | 12.8% | +1.5 pts |
| Manufacturing | 10.9% | +0.9 pts |
| Public administration | 9.3% | +4.6 pts |
A lender verifies what your own job pays. The county's industry mix tells you about the local economy, not about your application.
The communities that make up Charlton County
2 Census places fall mainly inside Charlton County; the 2 biggest are below. They account for 5,386 residents, leaving about 58% of the county in unincorporated, unnamed areas. No Charlton County place has a separate guide yet; this county page serves all 2.
| Name | Kind | Pop. | Income | Rent | Miles |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Folkston | city | 4,631 | $50,116 | $495 | 9 mi |
| Homeland | city | 755 | $48,000 | $848 | 9 mi |
Regional comparison for Charlton County
Six nearby counties, 25 to 35 miles away by the straight-line distance between their centers. 3 of the six report a higher median household income than Charlton County; Nassau County is highest at $89,804 and Clinch County lowest at $45,847. Some neighbors are in Florida. Lender licensing is state by state, so a loan for a Charlton County resident follows Georgia rules.
| County | Distance | Median income | Median rent | Owners |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Charlton County | - | $61,276 | $540/mo | 80% |
| Ware County, GA | 25 mi | $47,448 | $789/mo | 63% |
| Nassau County, FL | 25 mi | $89,804 | $1,526/mo | 83% |
| Brantley County, GA | 30 mi | $58,239 | $755/mo | 80% |
| Camden County, GA | 31 mi | $74,378 | $1,235/mo | 68% |
| Baker County, FL | 33 mi | $79,836 | $1,302/mo | 85% |
| Clinch County, GA | 35 mi | $45,847 | $509/mo | 71% |
What a median Charlton County budget can carry
Charlton County at the medians, through a lender's eyes (what DTI means):
- $61,276 a year is $5,106 of gross monthly income
- Housing at the median rent of $540 uses 11%
- At 36%, room after rent is $1,298 a month
Car, student loan and card payments come out of that room first. Try your own numbers in the calculator.
Before borrowing in Charlton County
What the Charlton County figures suggest, and what to check first:
- Uninsured care. 16% lack coverage here; nonprofit hospitals must publish an assistance policy, so ask for it first (guide).
- Long drives. With 34% of commutes over 45 minutes, tires and repairs are fixed costs in many Charlton County budgets.
- Mobile home upkeep. 38% of units fall in this category; roof, skirting and HVAC jobs are common reasons to borrow.
- Assistance before credit. With a 18% poverty rate, check no-cost options before any Charlton County loan.
Charlton County residents: age, schooling, coverage
Degree holders: 12% of adults over 25. 16.2% of residents have no health coverage.
| Residents | Charlton County | Georgia | Middle U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 37.1 | 37.6 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 12.3% | 34.9% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 18.5% | 10.8% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 16.2% | 12.4% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 7.0% | 5.9% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 2.2% | 15.9% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 18.1% | 13.4% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 14.0% | 5.1% | 4.4% |
| Trip time | Share |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 44.0% |
| 15 to 29 min | 9.2% |
| 30 to 44 min | 12.5% |
| 45 to 59 min | 15.9% |
| 60+ min | 18.4% |
Steps before you apply in Charlton County
Four checks before you sign anything:
- Write down what the expense costs; a smaller loan costs less.
- Compare the total repaid on every offer, not just the payment.
- Check the license, then the reviews, then the offer.
- Lock paid-off cards after consolidating so balances stay at zero.
Lender oversight for Charlton County
Consumer lenders serving Charlton County are licensed by the state, not the county; in Georgia that is the Georgia Department of Banking and Finance. Banks and credit unions have their own regulators, and the CFPB takes complaints about any lender. More on Georgia: Georgia personal loans.
More guides for Charlton County
The Georgia guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
What does a typical Charlton County household make?
About $61,276 a year at the median (ACS 2020-24), 21% below the Georgia median.
What do renters pay in Charlton County?
$540 a month at the median, about 11% of median household income.
Should Charlton County homeowners use home equity instead?
Maybe, but weigh the risk: 80% of Charlton County homes are owner-occupied, and a home-equity loan or line is secured by the house while a personal loan usually is not.
Which towns does the Charlton County guide cover?
Every community in the county, unincorporated areas included. The largest of its 2 Census places: Folkston, Homeland.
Is the fit check different in Charlton County?
No. It is identical everywhere, and it never looks at your neighborhood.